riverboat discovery fairbanks tickets

• Riverboat Discovery Cruise Fairbanks

Climb aboard a classic Chena River sternwheeler to experience the living history of Fairbanks, Alaska.

• Things to Do in Fairbanks

More Details

Rates & dates, departure times, availability.

Add to My Trip

For decades, riverboats like the Discovery III sternwheeler ran the big rivers of Alaska's interior. They hauled freight and passengers, linked distant communities and helped build new ones. Today the boat takes visitors on a unique tour to explore that history and see firsthand some of Alaska's quintessential pastimes.

Experience some of Alaska's quintessential pastimes.

The stately Discovery III has three decks with comfortable indoor seating, and a fourth top deck with open-air seating. The large red paddlewheel splashing at the stern propels the boat on its journey down the Chena River. It's right on the water shortly after leaving Steamboat Landing that guests see their first Alaskan demo. A bushplane on floats takes off alongside the boat, banking in a long arc until it loops back and lands again. The pilot talks about the wild life of bush flying in Alaska before the boat continues downstream. The next stop is an exuberant sled dog demo at the riverside kennels of late four-time Iditarod musher Susan Butcher.

Upon reaching the confluence of the Chena and Tanana Rivers, guests disembark for a walking tour of a Chena Indian Village. Native Alaskan guides lead groups to see spruce cabins, caches, smokehouses, and crafts created by Athabascans native to interior Alaska. After spending time further exploring the village on their own, guests board the boat for a return ride up the Chena River.

The Riverboat Discovery Cruise includes a bush plane demo, sled dog demo, and Chena Indian Village tour. There is a small giftshop and galley selling snacks, drinks, ice cream, and hearty lunch boxes on the boat. The tour returns to the Steamboat Landing where guests can visit the Discovery Trading Post, the largest Alaskan souvenir shop in Fairbanks .

What to Bring

Wear comfortable clothes and dress in layers. Most of the tour is conducted outside, so bring a light coat or rain jacket if necessary.

Special Instructions

Guests must check in at the Steamboat Landing station at least 30 minutes prior to the tour departure to exchange their voucher for a boarding pass.

Transfers & Meeting Points

The Riverboat Discovery Cruise is just five minutes from the Fairbanks airport and 20 minutes from downtown Fairbanks. Many local hotels offer shuttles to the Riverboat Discovery. Guests must coordinate their own transportation to the tour.

Riverboat Discovery Cruise 1975 Discovery Drive Fairbanks, Alaska 99709

Here are the rates and operating dates for this product. Remember, we have a lowest price guarantee for nearly everything we sell.

Child rates apply to children under the age of 13. Infants under the age of 2 may travel for free but must sit on an adult's lap.

Departure times and locations are listed below. Click on a link for an interactive map.

• Collapse All

SHOW MAP >

With the 2021 summer season still taking shape, some tour providers may not yet have their operating dates set. Availability on AlaskaTravel.com reflects the most current information and is updated daily. Please contact us if you have questions about this tour.

Select a departure below to see current availability. If your desired date is sold out (red) we will do our best to find an alternative, but we may not be able to accommodate your request.

Book Now >

Quick Facts

• Duration 3 Hours
• Options AM, PM
• Operating Dates Daily from 6/1/2024 to 8/31/2024
• Activity Level Less Active

What's Included

• Guided tour through an Athabascan village.
• Passage on a classic sternwheeler riverboat.
• Bush plane and sled dog demonstrations.
• Complimentary coffee and fresh donuts.

Guest Feedback

"We loved this! They made what might look like an ordinary river come alive! This was in our "Top 3 Attractions" list!"

~Ron from Illinois~

Photo Gallery

Riverboat Discovery

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Riverboat Discovery - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Chat is Offline
• Language Select Language English 简体中文 Chinese Español 日本語 Japanese 繁體中文 Chinese Traditional
• Special Offers Sign Up
• Cruise Deals" data-uk-url="https://www.princess.com/cruise-deals-promotions/uk/" data-uk-text=" Cruise Deals" data-gb-url="https://www.princess.com/cruise-deals-promotions/uk/" data-gb-text=" Cruise Deals" data-au-url="https://www.princess.com/cruise-deals-promotions/au/" data-au-text=" Cruise Deals" data-nz-url="https://www.princess.com/cruise-deals-promotions/au/" data-nz-text=" Cruise Deals" data-hk-url="https://book.princess.com/html/global/cruisedeals/hk/top-deals/" data-hk-text=" Cruise Deals" data-sg-url="https://book.princess.com/html/global/cruisedeals/sin/top-deals/" data-sg-text=" Cruise Deals" data-my-url="https://book.princess.com/html/global/cruisedeals/sin/top-deals/" data-my-text=" Cruise Deals" data-id-url="https://book.princess.com/html/global/cruisedeals/sin/top-deals/" data-id-text=" Cruise Deals" data-bn-url="https://book.princess.com/html/global/cruisedeals/sin/top-deals/" data-bn-text=" Cruise Deals" data-vn-url="https://book.princess.com/html/global/cruisedeals/sin/top-deals/" data-vn-text=" Cruise Deals" data-track="header" data-track-id="Cruise Deals"> Cruise Deals
• Log In | Register Welcome! Log Out My Princess ® Home Profile Information Future Cruise Credits Upcoming Cruises Captain’s Circle ℠ Cruise History Membership Info Refer-a-Friend
• Find Cruises
• Tap to Call
• Click to Chat

The Riverboat Discovery Cruise

Exceptional value.

• Customer Reviews

Points of Interest

• Riverboat Discovery

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Board the only remaining authentic Alaskan sternwheeler for a cruise along the Chena and Tanana rivers in Chena River State Recreation Area. With the feel of an old-time steamboat that frequented the river during the gold rush days, the modern-day Riverboat Discovery features an open sun deck, heated glass enclosed decks and is equipped with video equipment so you won't miss any of the beautiful scenery. On the first leg of your journey, you'll see a bush pilot perform a takeoff and landing demonstration from a riverbank landing strip. As the giant paddle wheel churns up the waters of the Chena, keep your cameras ready for the wolves, grizzly bears and black bears that make the recreation area home. Beavers, foxes and moose may be seen near the shore or an occasional eagle can be spotted flying overhead and the waters teem with salmon from late June through early August. During the narrated tour, complementary coffee and donuts are served while you witness the ''wedding of the rivers.'' The marriage of these two mighty rivers creates quite a unique demarcation line - when the clear waters of the Chena meet the Tanana, the world's greatest glacier river carrying tons of glacial silt from the Alaska Range, the result is clouds of silt that rise and fall over the river. You'll make a stop at the home of Dave Monson and Susan Butcher, the late four-time Iditarod champion, meet her winning sled dogs and witness a dog sleg demonstration. Back on board, you'll continue on to the Old Chena Indian Village, and disembark for a glimpse into Alaskan Native life and history. Alaskan Native guides will take you on a tour of an Athabascan Indian village, a spruce bark hut, a trapper's cabin made of spruce logs, and show you how a fish wheel operates. Before boarding for your trip back, you'll have 15 minutes at the end of the tour to wander around the village or to take pictures.

Special Notes:

Alaska is ready

Make 2023 your year

DINING OPTIONS

We have various dining options on Steamboat Landing and Discovery III:

•  DISCOVERY DINING HALL >

• CAPTAIN'S CORNER SNACK BAR >

• RIVERBOAT DISCOVERY GALLEYS >

CHENA VILLAGE LIVING MUSEUM

Be immersed in frontier living first hand with a guided walking tour of an Athabascan village. You’ll see an Athabascan  village with cabins made of spruce logs, a cache used for storing supplies, a primitive spruce bark hut and fur pelts. Our guides will explain how the wolf, fox, martin and beaver were used to provide food and protection in the harsh Arctic climate. They will also share how the Athabascans skillfully survived for over 10,000 years and how they adapted to village life and Western culture in the past century.

At the end of your guided tour, you will have time to explore the village on your own, interact with our guides and visit dogs from Susan Butcher’s Trail Breaker Kennel.

INTERNATIONAL SCRIPTS

•  SPANISH >

•  FRENCH >

•  GERMAN >

•  CHINESE >

•  JAPANESE >

•  KOREAN >

A family business

The Binkley family’s steamboating tradition goes back over 100 years and five generations. In 1898, when Charles M. Binkley hiked over the Chilkoot Pass with other stampeders, he was not so much in search of gold as he was the chance to build and operate boats on the Yukon and its tributaries. He became a respected pilot and boat builder in the North. His son, Captain Jim Binkley, Sr., followed in his father’s footsteps and piloted freight vessels on the Yukon and Tanana Rivers in the 1940's.

As transportation systems changed in the north, railroads and airplanes began to carry much of the freight. In 1950, noting the coming changes in the freighting business, Captain Jim and his wife, Mary, began a river excursion business focusing on sharing their love of Alaska and its culture with visitors. Over the coming years, Captain Jim and Mary B’s business grew from the Godspeed, a 25 passenger vessel, to the Discovery III, a 900 passenger vessel. Today, Captain Jim’s grandchildren run the company and Mary B is still active in the business.

In addition to growing their sternwheel business, the Binkley’s have added a gold mining attraction: Gold Dredge 8. The family has developed a tour in the heart of the gold fields where the first gold strikes attracted miners from the Klondike. They have incorporated large scale industrial mining and the smaller 'Mom and Pop' side of mining into an all-encompassing tour that also features the Trans Alaska Pipeline and a replica of the Tanana Valley Railroad.

DISCOVERY DINING HALL

CAPTAIN'S CORNER

RIVERBOAT DISCOVERY GALLEY

Can I do both the Riverboat Discovery and Gold Dredge 8 tours in one day?

Yes, our tours are designed so you can do both tours in one day. However, please note that these tours are not at the same location.

Are reservations required?

Although reservations are not required, they are highly recommended. We recommend making reservations as soon as you know the date you would like to go on our tours.

What time should I arrive for my tour?

We recommend arriving at the Riverboat Discovery at least 30 minutes prior to departure time. When you arrive at the Riverboat Discovery you will need to check in at our ticket counter to pick up your boarding passes.

We recommend arriving at Gold Dredge 8 at least 15 minutes prior to departure time. When you arrive at Gold Dredge 8 you will need to check in at our train station in the parking lot to pick up your boarding passes.

How do I get to your location?

The Riverboat Discovery is located a few miles from Fairbanks International Airport. Take Airport Way West towards the airport; take a right onto Dale Road; continue about 1/2 mile and take a right onto Discovery Drive; we are located at the end of Discovery Drive.

Gold Dredge 8 is located about 25 minutes outside of Fairbanks on the Old Steese Highway. Take the Steese Highway (Route 2) North; take a left onto Goldstream Road; take a left onto Old Steese Highway (the first cross-road); our entrance is the first driveway on the right.

How long should I allow to get to each location?

The Riverboat Discovery is roughly 7 miles from downtown Fairbanks. We recommend allowing 20 minutes to get from downtown Fairbanks to the Riverboat Discovery.

Gold Dredge 8 is roughly 10 miles from downtown Fairbanks. We recommend allowing 25 minutes to get from downtown Fairbanks to Gold Dredge 8.

What address do I enter in my GPS to get to your location?

Riverboat Discovery: 1975 Discovery Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99709

Gold Dredge 8: 1803 Old Steese Highway North, Fairbanks, AK 99712

I don’t have a car. What is the best way to get to the Riverboat Discovery and/or Gold Dredge 8?

We recommend renting a car while in Fairbanks so you can explore the beauty of our widespread community. Many local hotels offer shuttles to the Riverboat Discovery. We recommend checking with the front desk at your hotel for the best transportation option to the Riverboat Discovery. Many of our Riverboat Discovery guests arrive via taxi or shuttle. We do not recommend taking a taxi to our Gold Dredge 8 location. It is outside of town and a taxi would be quite expensive. We recommend either renting a car or checking into a shuttle service such as Go North (907-452-9999) or Airlink (907-452-3337).

What should I bring on my tour?

We recommend bringing a camera and a light jacket.

What should I wear on my tour?

We always suggest wearing layers. A portion of our tours at both locations are outdoors where you are exposed to the elements. Our boats at the Riverboat Discovery have heated/air-conditioned decks for your comfort. The train at Gold Dredge 8 is open air and has a roof.

Is the tour ever cancelled due to the weather?

In our 70+ year history, we have never cancelled a tour due to the weather. If it is sprinkling rain, we provide ponchos, seat cushions and umbrellas for our guests at both locations. If it is pouring rain at the Riverboat Discovery, we will bring the village tour onto the boat.

Will I see wildlife?

You will see reindeer as part of the tour at the Riverboat Discovery.

Is there anything available to eat on the tour?

We have complimentary coffee and fresh donuts at the Riverboat Discovery. If you are looking for something more than donuts, we have three options available at the Riverboat Discovery: Discovery Dining Hall, where we serve a hearty miner’s stew (vegetarian and gluten-free options available upon request); galleys on board the boats that have snack food (reindeer dogs, chili, chips, etc.); Captain’s Corner, where we offer lunch boxes (sandwiches, salad, chips and a soda). We also serve locally made ice cream on the boats and at Captain’s Corner in the gift shop. At Gold Dredge 8, we serve complimentary freshly baked cookies, coffee and hot chocolate.

Is there assigned seating on the boat or train?

No, seating is on a first come first served basis. Every seat on board is a great seat. We have TV monitors on every deck and train car that feature a live broadcast and provide supplementary informational footage.

Is there alcohol available for purchase?

Yes, at the Riverboat Discovery, we serve beer and wine on board our boats and in the Discovery Dining Hall.

Are there restrooms on the boat and train?

At the Riverboat Discovery, there are restrooms available on the boats, at our village and in our gift shop. At the Gold Dredge 8, there are restrooms available at our train station and in the gift shop.

How long is the tour and how often do tours run?

The tour at the Riverboat Discovery is three hours long. The Gold Dredge 8 tour is two hours long. Both of our tours run twice a day from mid-May to mid-September.

I purchased my ticket through an on-line agency. Do I need to check-in on-site?

Yes, you will need to check in at our ticket counter/train station to exchange your voucher for a boarding pass.

What is your refund policy?

We offer a full refund if you cancel your reservation up to 48 hours prior to your scheduled tour time. After 48 hours, we do not offer a refund but you can reschedule your tour for another time.

Are your tours wheelchair accessible?

Yes, our tours are wheelchair accessible. At the Riverboat Discovery, wheelchairs must board at the stern (back of the boat near the paddle wheel). When you arrive please notify an associate at the ticket counter or collection booth as we require wheelchairs to pre-board and be escorted by a trained Deckhand. Our Athabascan Village has gravel paths that allow easy access. If you need assistance at the Athabascan Village please notify a Deckhand. At Gold Dredge 8, we have certain train cars that are wheelchair accessible. When you arrive notify the associate that is assisting with boarding and they will direct you to the appropriate train car.

Are animals allowed on the boat or train?

Due to customer allergies, we only allow designated trained service animals.

Is the paddle wheel decorative?

No, the paddle wheel is used to power the boat.

Are the tours appropriate for young children?

Yes, we find that all ages enjoy our tours.

Summer Employment Opportunities - Riverboat Discovery & Gold Dredge 8

The work environment at the Riverboat Discovery and Gold Dredge 8 is unlike any other in town!  You can expect to meet people from all over the world, work hard on the job but laugh and have fun with your co-workers at the same time.  Some of them might even become friends for life!  We have multiple crew parties and get togethers throughout the season that are always a blast!  Thank you for your interest in joining our family! Click here to meet our managers and see a video of our jobs!

All content will be securely submitted to our HR Department via email and you will receive a confirmation. If you choose not to submit directly via email, deliver the printed application and questionnaire to our office in person, or by mail at the address listed to the left. Our season runs from mid-May to mid-September.  Wages start at $15.00 per hour and include a $1.00 per hour bonus paid at the end of the season.

Click here to complete the online job application.

Please feel free to contact us through e-mail at [email protected] with any questions or comments.

Retail Sales Associate

‍ Retail Sales Associates serve as a customer service representative for visitors to the Riverboat Discovery; assist visitors with purchases; prepare and stock merchandise for sale; perform inventory control duties; organize and distribute merchandise. Perform other duties related to the successful operation of a retail store including cleaning and moderate lifting.

Dining Hall Associate

‍ Dining Hall Associates serve as customer service representatives for visitors to the Riverboat Discovery; provide dining service to guests and meet their needs to ensure a pleasurable dining experience; set up/remove food service items; greet and seat guests in a prompt and courteous manner; reset tables according to service standards; operating commercial dishwashers; ensuring cleanliness of dishes including some polishing of glass for water spot removal; maintain sanitation and safety standards.

Reservationist

‍ A customer service focused position where you spend about half your time face to face with our guests and about half your time answering phones, responding to emails and giving lots and lots of directions.

Accounting Clerk

‍ Accounting Clerks enter accounts receivable into an accounting program; prepare invoices and journal entries; prepare daily receipts ledgers; post credit card payments to accounts receivable; assist with timekeeping and perform cash counting and reservation support duties.

Kitchen Assistant

‍ Kitchen Assistants primarily work in our kitchen area with some duties performed in our dining hall. Their duties include operating kitchen cooking equipment to heat fixed menu food; preparing all food for our gift shop café; serving food in the dining hall; maintaining the cleanliness standards required in the kitchen.

Donut Maker

‍ Donut Maker duties include operate the donut-making machine, clean the donut-making machine and Commissary; ensure that donuts are properly produced, boxed and refrigerated.

‍ Guides greet passengers and serve as ambassadors for Alaskan Native culture; conduct the tour of the Chena Indian Village; serve coffee and donuts and assist Deckhands in the snack bar during busy times.

‍ Deckhands cast off at departure and secure the Riverboat Discovery on landing; maintain the safety and cleanliness of the boat; staff the snack bars when passengers are on board; provide general passenger assistance and if necessary, provide emergency first aid until trained EMTs arrive. Mandatory drug testing per the U.S. Coast Guard.

Grounds Crewmember (full-time and part-time)

Full-time (11am - 7:30pm) and part-time (5pm - 7:30 pm) Grounds Crew members clean the Riverboat Discovery and premises twice a day (after the boat returns to the dock at 12:30pm and again at 5:30pm).  Duties include dusting, vacuuming, emptying trash, washing windows, cleaning restrooms and miscellaneous warehouse/grounds maintenance duties; some off-site maintenance tasks to be performed as directed.

1975 Discovery Drive Fairbanks, AK 99709

1-866-479-6673

907-479-6673

[email protected]

Gold Dredge 8

Captain Jim's Salmon

Adventure Green Alaska

Alaska Travel Industry Association

Explore Fairbanks

PVA Green Waters

Trip Advisor

Trail Breaker Kennel